The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 09, 2000
Filed:
Jun. 07, 1995
Richard E Cabral, Tewksbury, MA (US);
Hologic, Inc., Waltham, MA (US);
Abstract
A portable x-ray bone densitometry system is suitable for transportation between rooms of a medical facility through generally standard doorways. The system has a base portion capable of rolling ambulation by at least one human operator during transportation and selective stabilization on a floor for patient scanning. The apparatus has a patient table extending parallel to a Y-axis of an XYZ coordinate system for supporting a patient at a patient position. The patient table includes a central portion coupled with the base portion, and at least one table leaf coupled with the table central portion, for extending table length parallel to the Y-axis. The apparatus also has a source-detector support coupled with the base portion; an x-ray source, coupled with the source-detector support, for emitting a beam of x-rays to irradiate at any one time a scan line which is transverse to the Y-axis; and an x-ray detector, coupled with the source-detector support arm in alignment with the source at opposite sides of the patient table along a source-detector axis which is transverse to the Y-axis, for receiving x-rays from the source after passage thereof through the patient position. A scanning mechanism moves at least one of the patient table and the source-detector support relative to the other to scan the patient position with the x-ray beam. The patient table may have a pair of leaves attached to the central portion with hinges at opposite ends thereof.